Tablet packaging device

ABSTRACT

A tablet packing apparatus arranged to prevent tablets from bouncing in a tablet drop guide path so that dropping time of the tablets can be shortened so as to be ready in time for packing. The tablet packing apparatus is provided with a tablet drop guide path ( 12 ) that guides tablets to a packing unit. The tablets drop obliquely downward from each of tablet outlets ( 10 ) of tablet feeders ( 8 ) provided in an up and down direction in a manner of a multistage shelf, wherein a bounce preventing member ( 14 ) is provided in a position opposing the tablet outlets of the tablet drop guide path, and the bounce preventing member ( 14 ) is obliquely provided so that it recedes from the tablet outlets  10  toward the lower end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tablet packing apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

In a medicine packing apparatus in which tablets and powder aredispensed in accordance with a prescription data and packed in a packingsheet by one dose and in a tablet packing apparatus in which tablets aredispensed and filled in a vial, there is provided a tablet cassetteshelf on which a plurality of tablet cassettes containing differentkinds of tablets respectively are mounted so that the tablets aredispensed one by one. In a back side plate of the tablet cassette shelf,there are provided tablet outlets that extend obliquely downward fromthe tablet cassettes and tablet drop guide paths that guide the tabletsas they drop from the tablet outlets.

The tablet drop guide paths have three disadvantages. Firstly, a tabletthat is dropping along the tablet drop guide path likely falls on aninclined plane of the tablet outlet of the lower tablet cassette andbounces upward, causing the drop of the tablet to be delayed. As aresult, the tablet is not ready in time for packing and is packed in asubsequent package. Secondly, the tablet bounced on the inclined planeof the tablet outlet is likely detected by a sensor disposed in thetablet outlet, causing a false indication that the tablet has beendischarged from the tablet outlet. To these disadvantages, an applicantof the present application has disclosed an idea in which a sheet memberfor covering the tablet outlet is attached on the upper edge of thetablet outlet in the tablet drop guide path so that the tablet droppingalong the tablet drop guide path never falls on an inclined plane of thetablet outlet (for example, see Japanese journal of Technical DisclosureNo. 97-6113). Thirdly, the tablet that exited from the tablet outletbounces between the back side plate and a rear wall opposing the tabletoutlet and drops, making the dropping time longer. As a result, thetablet is also not ready in time for packing and is packed in asubsequent package. To address this disadvantage, there has beenproposed an idea in which a soft sheet is suspended in the tablet dropguide path so that the tablets hit on the soft sheet (for example, seeJapanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. H2-15761).

However, in the idea in which the sheet member is attached on the tabletoutlet, the sheet will likely cling to the back side plate in a drystate during the winter, thereby causing the small tablet to becollected therein. Further, when cleaning the tablet drop guide path andthe light sensor in the tablet outlet using a brush or the like, thesheet member is likely deformed so as to lose the original function ofthe sheet member, resulting in a lot of time being required to repairit. On the other hand, in accordance with the arrangement in which thesoft sheet is suspended in the tablet drop guide path, as a weight isattached on the lower end of the soft sheet, the soft sheet is apt tohold the vertical. Therefore, the light tablet bounces on the softsheet, causing the same disadvantages as in the conventionalarrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in view of the conventional disadvantages.It is a object of the present invention to provide a tablet packingapparatus in which the tablets are prevented from bouncing in the tabletdrop guide path so that the dropping time can be shortened. The tabletpacking apparatus of the present invention that will be describedhereinafter includes one that packs the tablets or powder in the packingsheet or one that fills and packs the tablets in the vial.

In order to solve the above problem, the first embodiment of the presentinvention provides a tablet packing apparatus provided with a tabletdrop guide path that guides tablets to a packing unit, the tablets dropobliquely downward from each of tablet outlets of tablet feedersprovided in an up and down direction in a manner of a multistage shelf,wherein a bounce preventing member is provided in a position opposingthe tablet outlets of the tablet drop guide path, and wherein the bouncepreventing member is obliquely provided so that it recedes from thetablet outlets toward the lower end.

It is preferable that the bounce preventing member comprises a flexibleplate. In this case, any one end of the upper end and lower end of thebounce preventing member may be supported movably in a direction ofthickness while the other end may be movable in a direction ofthickness. Alternatively, any one end of the upper end and lower end ofthe bounce preventing member may be supported fixedly while the otherend may be movable in a direction of thickness. It is also preferablethat the bounce preventing member is detachable.

The second embodiment of the invention provides a tablet packingapparatus provided with a tablet drop guide path that guides tablets toa packing unit, the tablets drop obliquely downward from each of tabletoutlets of tablet feeders provided in an up and down direction in amanner of a multistage shelf. A bounce preventing member is provided soas to extend obliquely from the lower edge of the upper-stage tabletoutlet or the vicinity thereof to a position apart from the lower-stagetablet outlet.

It is preferable that the lower half portion of the bounce preventingmember comprises a vertical portion. The bounce preventing member maycomprise a cover portion extending from the lower end of it to the upperedge of the lower-stage tablet outlet. It is also preferable that thebounce preventing member is formed integrally with side walls of thetablet drop guide path.

The third embodiment of the invention provides a tablet packingapparatus provided with a tablet drop guide path that guides tablets toa packing unit. The tablets drop obliquely downward from each of tabletoutlets of the tablet feeders provided in an up and down direction in amanner of a multistage shelf, comprising a bounce preventing member ofthe first embodiment of the invention described above and a bouncepreventing member of the second embodiment of the invention describedabove.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTIONS

According to the first embodiment of the invention, a bounce preventingmember is provided in a position opposing the tablet outlets of thetablet drop guide path, and the bounce preventing member is obliquelyprovided so that it recedes from the tablet outlets toward the lowerend. Thus, a bounce angle of the tablet is suppressed, allowing thetablets to free fall downward without bouncing many times so that thedropping time can be shortened. As a result, it is possible to promptlypack the tablet dropped through the tablet drop guide path and toeliminate a possibility that the tablet will contaminate the nextpackage, allowing perfect and reliable packaging to be conducted.

As the bounce preventing member comprises a flexible plate, the shockwhen the tablet hits against the bounce preventing member is absorbed sothat bounce of the tablet can be suppressed. Since either of the upperend and the lower end of the bounce preventing member is supportedmovably in a direction of thickness while the other end is movable in adirection of thickness; alternatively, any one end of the upper end andthe lower end of the bounce preventing member is supported fixedly whilethe other end is movable in a direction of thickness such that, when thetablet hits on the bounce preventing member, the latter recedes toabsorb the shock so that bounce of the tablet can be more effectivelysuppressed. Since the bounce preventing member is detachable, when it isremoved, the tablet drop guide path can be easily cleaned.

According to the second invention, a bounce preventing member isprovided so as to extend obliquely from the lower edge of theupper-stage tablet outlet or the vicinity thereof to a position apartfrom the lower-stage tablet outlet. Thus, even if the tablets bounce inthe tablet drop guide path and drop toward the tablet outlet, all of thetablets are bounced downward by the bounce preventing member, allowingthe tablet to free fall downward without bouncing many times so that thedropping time can be shortened. As a result, in the same manner as thefirst invention, it is possible to promptly pack the tablet droppedthrough the tablet drop guide path and to eliminate a possibility thatthe tablet will contaminate the next package, allowing perfect andreliable packaging to be conducted.

Since the lower half portion of the bounce preventing member comprises avertical portion, all of the tablets dropping toward the verticalportion can be bounced downward, allowing the dropping time to befurther shortened. As the bounce preventing member is formed integrallywith side walls of the tablet drop guide path, the number of parts isreduced, thereby making it easy to attach.

According to the third embodiment of the invention, both a bouncepreventing member of the first embodiment of the invention and a bouncepreventing member of the second embodiment of the invention areprovided. Thus, due to the synergistic effect of both bounce preventingeffects, the dropping time of the tablets can be further shortened,thereby enhancing the packing speed and preventing the tablet fromcontaminating the next package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medicine packing apparatus accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a tablet drop guide path provided with abounce preventing plate according to a first embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 3( a) is a back side view of the tablet drop guide path of FIG. 2,and FIG. 3( b) is a sectional view taken along IIIb-IIIb of FIG. 3( a);

FIG. 4( a) is a perspective view of the bounce preventing plate, andFIG. 4( b) is an enlarged view showing an attaching portion of thebounce preventing plate;

FIG. 5( a) is a schematic view showing a state in which the tablet isbouncing in the tablet drop guide path having the bounce preventingplate, and FIG. 5( b) is a schematic view showing a state in which thetablet is bouncing in the conventional tablet drop guide path having nobounce preventing plate;

FIG. 6( a) is an enlarged view showing an another example of theattaching portion of the bounce preventing plate, and FIG. 6( b) is anenlarged view showing another example;

FIG. 7( a) is a sectional view of a tablet drop guide path provided witha bounce preventing member according to a second embodiment of theinvention, and FIG. 7( b) is a sectional view of a tablet drop guidepath having no bounce preventing member;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along VIII-VIII of FIG. 7( a); and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a tablet drop guide path according to athird embodiment of the invention provided with the bounce preventingplate according to the first embodiment of the invention and the bouncepreventing member according to the second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will bedescribed in accordance with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a medicine packing apparatus 1 according to the firstembodiment of the invention. On the back surface, the medicine packingapparatus 1 is combined with a tablet cassette shelf 2. On the uppersurface, a tablet manual distributing unit 3, a V-shaped box 4 in whichpowder is poured and a control unit 5 are provided. In the lower portionof the front surface, a medicine package belt discharge portion 6 and abox 7 for containing a medicine package belt discharged from themedicine package belt discharge portion 6 are provided.

In the medicine packing apparatus 1, known units (not shown) such as adivision container for dividing the powder poured in the V-shaped box 4,a hopper for collecting the powder dropping from the division containerand the tablets dropping from the tablet manual distributing unit 3, anda packing unit for packing the medicine collected by the hopper todischarge it through a medicine package belt discharge portion 6, and soon are provided.

On the tablet cassette shelf 2, a plurality of tablet feeders (motorbases) 8 are attached in a manner of a multistage shelf. On the tabletfeeders 8 are mounted a plurality of tablet cassettes 9, which containdifferent kinds of tablets, respectively. Operation of the tablet feeder8 allows the tablets in each of the plurality of tablet cassettes 9 tobe taken out one by one from a tablet outlet 10, as shown in FIG. 2. Thetablets are collected in the hopper through a tablet drop guide path 12provided on a back surface plate 11 of the cassette shelf 2 and packedby the packing unit.

The tablet drop guide path 12, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises two sidewalls 13 positioned at both sides of the tablet outlets 10 of the backside plate 11 and a bounce preventing plate 14 opposing the tabletoutlets 10 of the back side plate 11. The side walls 13 in the presentembodiment have an L-shaped cross section made of stainless steel andare screwed on the back surface plate 11. As shown in FIG. 4, on theupper end portion of each of the side walls 13 is formed a first cutout15, which comprises a horizontal portion 15 a extending horizontallyfrom the vertical edge and a vertical portion 15 b extending downwardlyfrom the end of the horizontal portion 15 a. On the lower portion isformed a second cutout 16 which comprises a horizontal portion 16 aextending horizontally from the vertical edge and a vertical portion 16b extending upwardly from the end of the horizontal portion 16 a. Thehorizontal portion 15 a of the first cutout 15 is longer than thehorizontal portion 16 a of the second cutout 16. The vertical portion 11b of the first cutout 15 is shorter than the vertical portion 16 b ofthe second cutout 16. Further, the first cutout 15 has a width in whicha support bar 17 on the upper end of the bounce preventing plate 14 canenter. The second cutout 16 has a width in which an engagementprotrusion 19 on the lower end of the bounce preventing plate 14 canenter.

The bounce preventing plate 14 in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4(a), is made of transparent flexible resin and formed in an elongateplate-like shape having a width that is smaller than the distance of theside walls 13. In the vicinity of the upper end of the bounce preventingplate 14 is screwed a support bar 17, which comprises a stainless steelround bar and has a length such that both ends protrude from the sideends of the bounce preventing plate 14. In the vicinity of the lower endof the bounce preventing plate 14 is screwed an engagement plate 18comprising a stainless steel plate. On both side edges of the engagementplate 18, engagement protrusions 19 are provided so as to protrude fromthe side edges of the bounce preventing plate 14. The length from thesupport bar 17 to the engagement protrusion 19 is shorter than that fromthe lower end of the vertical portion 15 b of the first cutout 15 to thehorizontal portion 16 a of the second cutout 16.

The engagement protrusions 19, at the lower end of the bounce preventingplate 14, are inserted in the horizontal portions 16 a of the secondcutouts 16 and pull up to the vertical portions 16 b. In this state,both ends of the support bar 17 at the upper end are inserted in thehorizontal portions 15 a of the first cutouts 15 and dropped in thevertical portions 15 b. Thus, the bounce preventing plate 14 isobliquely attached so that it recedes from the tablet outlets 10 of theback surface plate 11 of the tablet cassette shelf 2 toward the lowerend. The upper end portion of the bounce preventing plate 14 is movableby a gap between the support bar 17 and the vertical portions 15 b ofthe first cutouts 15. The lower end portion is movable by a gap betweenthe engagement protrusions 19 and the vertical portions 16 b of thesecond cutout 16. As the bounce preventing plate 14 has flexibility, thesupport bar 17 at the upper end is rotatable to some extent within thevertical portions 15 b of the first cutout 15, and the engagementprotrusions 19 at the lower end are movable up and down.

A tablet dropping from the tablet outlet 10 of the tablet feeder 8, asshown in FIG. 2, bounces first on the bounce preventing plate 14 andthen free falls directly through the tablet drop guide path 12 withoutbouncing on the back surface plate 11. This is due to the following tworeasons. Firstly, since the bounce preventing plate 14 is inclined so asto recede from the tablet outlets 10 toward the lower end as shown inFIG. 5( a), a bounce angle θ is small in comparison with that of theconventional device as shown in FIG. 5( b). Secondly, since the bouncepreventing plate 14 has flexibility and is movable in a directionperpendicular to the surface, the shock when the tablet hits against thebounce preventing plate 14 is absorbed. Therefore, the tablet isprevented from bouncing many times within the tablet drop guide path asin the conventional device. Thus, the dropping time becomes shorter andthe tablet can be ready in time for packing. Therefore, the conventionaldisadvantages that the drop of the tablet is delayed and the tablet ispacked in a subsequent package can be eliminated.

FIGS. 6( a)-6(b) show a variation of the support structure of the bouncepreventing plate 14. The upper end of the bounce preventing plate 14 ofFIG. 6( a) is inserted between two pins 20 a, 20 b so as to be movablein a direction of thickness while the lower end is fixed to the sidewalls 13 by appropriate means such as screws, adhesive, two-sided tapeand so on. The upper end of the bounce preventing plate 14 of FIG. 6( b)is fixed to the side walls 13 by appropriate means such as screws,adhesive, two-sided tape and so on while the lower end comes intocontact with a pin 20 c so as to be movable in a direction of thickness.Since the bounce preventing plate 14 is movable in a direction ofthickness, it retreats as the tablet hits, thereby suppressing thebounce.

FIG. 7( a) shows the tablet drop guide path 12 of the medicine packingapparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention. The tabletdrop guide path 12 is provided with a bounce preventing member 21 aboveeach of the tablet outlets 10 of the tablet feeders 8. The bouncepreventing member 21 is made of synthetic resin and formed integrallywith both side walls 22 as shown in FIG. 8. The side walls are made ofsynthetic resin and form the tablet drop guide path 12. The bouncepreventing member 21 is screwed on the back surface plate 11. The bouncepreventing member 21 extends obliquely from the lower edge of theupper-stage tablet outlet 10 or the vicinity thereof to a position apartfrom the lower-stage tablet outlet 10. The upper half part of the bouncepreventing member 21 is an inclined portion 23 and the lower half partis a vertical portion 24 extending parallel to the tablet drop guidepath 12. In addition, the bounce preventing member 21 has a coverportion 25 extending from the lower end of it to the upper edge of thelower-stage tablet outlet 10.

Assuming that there is no such bounce preventing member 21, the tabletthat drops toward the lower edge of the tablet outlet 10 bounces up asshown in an “a1” course in FIG. 7( b), delaying the dropping time.Otherwise, as shown in an “a2” course in FIG. 7( b), the tablet isdetected by a sensor 30 disposed in the tablet outlet 10, causing afalse determination that the tablet has been discharged from the tabletoutlet 10, resulting in a possibility of false operation. However, inthe present embodiment, since the bounce preventing member 21 exists,even if the tablet drops toward the lower edge of the tablet outlet 10,the tablet bounces on the vertical portion 24 of the bounce preventingmember 21 as shown in “b” course in FIG. 7( a) to drop downward. Also,the tablet drops toward the inclined portion 23 of the bounce preventingmember 21 bounces on the inclined portion 23 to drop downward. Thus,since all of the tablets dropping toward the vicinity of the tabletoutlet 10 bounce downward, the dropping time is not delayed and thetablet can be ready in time for packing. Therefore, in this embodiment,the conventional disadvantages that the drop of the tablet is delayedand the tablet is packed in a subsequent package can also be eliminated.

FIG. 9 shows the tablet drop guide path 12 of the medicine packingapparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention. The tabletdrop guide path 12 has the bounce preventing plate 14 as shown in FIG. 1and the bounce preventing member 21 as shown in FIG. 7( a). Therefore,according to the synergistic effect of both bounce preventing effects,the tablet promptly passes through the tablet drop guide path 12 to bedirected to the lower packing unit, enhancing the packing speed andreducing packing defects such as contamination of the tablet into thenext package.

1. A tablet packing apparatus comprising: a plurality of tablet feedersarranged in an up and down direction so as to form a multistage shelf,each of the tablet feeders having a tablet outlet; a tablet drop guidepath for receiving tablets from the tablet feeders and guiding thetablets to a packing unit, wherein the tablet outlets are arranged sothat the tablets drop obliquely downward into the tablet drop guide pathfrom each of tablet outlets of the tablet feeders; and a bouncepreventing member disposed in the tablet drop guide path and positionedso as to oppose the tablet outlets of the tablet feeders, wherein thebounce preventing member is obliquely provided with respect to avertical plumb line of the tablet drop guide path so that it recedesfrom the tablet outlets in a direction toward a lower end thereof. 2.The tablet packing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the bouncepreventing member comprises a flexible plate.
 3. The tablet packingapparatus as in claim 2, wherein any one end of the upper end and lowerend of the bounce preventing member is supported movably in a directionof thickness while the other end is movable in a direction of thickness.4. The tablet packing apparatus as in claim 2, wherein anyone end of theupper end and lower end of the bounce preventing member is supportedfixedly while the other end is movable in a direction of thickness. 5.The tablet packing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the bouncepreventing member is detachable.
 6. A tablet packing apparatuscomprising: a plurality of tablet feeders arranged in an up and downdirection so as to form a multistage shelf, wherein each of the tabletfeeders includes a tablet outlet; a tablet drop guide path for guidingtablets fed from the tablet feeders to a packing unit, wherein thetablet outlets of the tablet feeders are arranged such that the tabletswill drop obliquely downward into the tablet drop guide path from eachof tablet outlets of the tablet feeders; and a bounce preventing memberis provided so as to extend obliquely from a lower edge of anupper-stage tablet outlet or the vicinity thereof to a position apartfrom a lower-stage tablet outlet.
 7. The tablet packing apparatus as inclaim 6, wherein a lower half portion of the bounce preventing membercomprises a vertical portion.
 8. The tablet packing apparatus as inclaim 6, wherein the bounce preventing member comprises a cover portionextending from the lower end of it to the upper edge of the lower-stagetablet outlet.
 9. The tablet packing apparatus as in claim 6, whereinthe bounce preventing member is formed integrally with side walls of thetablet drop guide path.
 10. A tablet packing apparatus as in claim 1,further comprising a second bounce preventing member provided so as toextend obliquely from a lower edge of an upper-stage tablet outlet orthe vicinity thereof to a position apart from the lower-stage tabletoutlet.
 11. The tablet packing apparatus as in claim 2, wherein thebounce preventing member is detachable.
 12. The tablet packing apparatusas in claim 3, wherein the bounce preventing member is detachable. 13.The tablet packing apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the bouncepreventing member is detachable.
 14. The tablet packing apparatus as inclaim 7, wherein the bounce preventing member comprises a cover portionextending from the lower end of it to the upper edge of the lower-stagetablet outlet.
 15. The tablet packing apparatus as in claim 7, whereinthe bounce preventing member is formed integrally with side walls of thetablet drop guide path.
 16. The tablet packing apparatus as in claim 8,wherein the bounce preventing member is formed integrally with sidewalls of the tablet drop guide path.